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Waking Sleeping Beauty

Waking Sleeping BeautyI've been sick for the last week and a half, and while looking for something to watch on Netflix, I ran into this movie / documentary called "Waking Sleeping Beauty". After starting a trend of watching old Disney animated movies again, I decided it was something I wanted to check out. It's a film about the Disney Animation Studios from about 1980 - 1995. Ever wonder the story behind some of the most beloved Disney animated movies of all time? This movie shows the studio from the dreads of the early 80's through the powerhouses like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. It's a must watch for industry people, because eventually one of these early artists will end up being your boss (or at least your bosses bosses boss). What I really liked about it was the truth they reveal behind the animocity between executives, artists, directors, and the likes, yet it shows people's brillance in their work. The movie opens with a home video style walkthrough of the Disney Animation building, and throughout the tour, you see so many of todays greats just starting off, like Tim Burton and Glen Keane, and behind the video camera? John Lassiter. Another interesting aspect of the film is how the 9 old men compared that timeframe with the early days with Walt. It's interesting to see how animation is cyclical. There was a huge lull with Disney in the 60's and 70's, and again (excluding Pixar) in the 2000's. Could stronger animated pieces like The Princess and the Frog and Tangled bring about another great era in Disney Animation? I certainly hope so. It's about the story, stupid.